Lamp firing switch with improved singly actuated mechanism



Dec. 6, 1966 G. HUBERT LAMP FIRING SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SINGLY ACTUATEDMECHANISM Filed Feb. 8, 1965 JA/VE/VfOR.

@0672: 1/ .HZ/SEPZ By Ms lQffOR/VEQ/C .H ipmg fd/Emg, Husseu. $559MUnited States Patent 3,290,454 LAMP FIRING SWITCH WITH IMPRQVED SHNGLYACTUATED MECHANISM Gustav Hubert, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor toUitra- Violet Products, Inc, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 430,951 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-)This invention relates to fluorescent lights and, in particular, to anew and improved switch structure for controlling lights.

Conventional fluorescent lamps utilize hot cathodes which must be heatedto incandescence in order to initially fire these lamps into operation.In conventional room lighting fixtures, starter units are utilized toprovide initial heating of the lamps. In small lights where space islimited, special switches are utilized in place of the conventionalstarter.

In starting up a fluorescent light, one switching action must connectthe main power supply to the lamp and maintain the connection as long asoperation of the lamp is desired. Another switching action must connectpower to the lamp cathodes to produce the initial heating. As soon assuflicient ionization is present within the lamp to fire the lamp, thelamp heater circuit may be broken. The lamp is extinguished by openingthe circuit to the power supply. In conventional lights, a specialswitch is utilized which gives the combination action necessary. Theswitches are either tumbler or push button type and in either case inthe on position the push button or actuating lever has an overtravel toclose a momentary contact. This momentary contact is in a circuit toconduct current to the main cathodes for heating. When the manualactuating pressure is released, the momentary contact is broken whilethe switch stays in the normal on position keeping the lamp burning.When the switch is moved to the off position, the lamp is extinguished.

Several disadvantages are encountered with the conventional switches.The push button type is relatively simple and trouble free but does notprovide any indication whether in the on or off positions. The tumblertype switches do provide an indication of the switch position but aremore complex in design and not as reliable in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a switchconstruction particularly adapted for use with small fluorescent lightsand which is reliable, simple, trouble free and inexpensive. Anadditional object is to provide such a switch construction whichrequires only a single manual operation for lamp starting and one whichwill provide an indication of the off or on condition of the switch.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide a switchconstruction for a fluorescent lamp utilizing separate switches for thepower off-on control and the lamp heater control with the switchesincorporated in a structure permitting actuation by a single manualoperation.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a fluorescent lightincorporated in a housing, a manually operable onoif electrical switch,first means for mounting the off-on switch in the housing for slidingmovement relative to the housing, a push button electrical switch biasedto the open position and including a base element and a button element,and second means for mounting the push button switch with one of theelements engageable with the housing and the other of the elementsengageable with the first means, with sliding movement of the off-onswitch in the housing produced by manual actuation thereof causingrelative movement of the push button switch elements to actuate the pushbutton switch. An additional object is to provide such a structureincluding means for connecting the push-button switch into the lampheater circuit of the light and means for connecting the oif-on switchinto the power supply circuit of the light.

it is an object of the invention to provide a fluorescent light having ahousing, a switch carrier mounted in the housing for reciprocatingmovement, a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to theopen position and mounted in the carrier and having a push button memberengageable with the housing, with movement of the carrier in saidhousing actuating the first switch, and a second oif-on electricalswitch mounted in the carrier and having an actuating member manuallymovable between off and on positions, with a manual force on the secondswitch member moving the second switch to an on position and moving thecarrier in the housing to move the first switch to the closed position.An additional object is to provide such a switch structure incorporatingindicator means for visually indicating when the oil-on switch is in theon position.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. The drawing merely shows andthe description merely describes a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention which is given by way of illustration or example.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view through a fluorescent lightincorporating the switch structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the light of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the switches and switch carrier of thestructure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating the operation ofthe switches; and

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic of a fluorescent light illustratingthe use of the two switches.

The electrical schematic of FIG. 6 illustrates a typical circuit foroperation of a fluorescent lamp 10. The lamp is energized from thesecondary winding of a transformer 11. The primary winding of thetransformer is a part of a multivibrator circuit 12 incorporatingtransistors 13, 14. The multivibrator is energized from a DC. sourcesuch as a battery connected to terminals 15, 16 and provides an A.C.voltage for operation of the lamp 10. An ofif-on switch 20 serves toconnect the power source in circuit with the multivibrator. A normallyopen push button switch 21 serves to connect the lamp heaters 22, 23 inseries across the secondary of the transformer 11 to provide a heatingcurrent through the heaters or cathodes before the lamp fires.

In order to turn the lamp on, the switch 20 is moved to the on or closedposition and the switch 21 is also moved to the on or closed position.The switch 21 is ordinarily spring biased to the ofl position and mustbe manually held closed. After the switch 21 has been closed for a fewseconds, the lamp cathodes will be heated sufficiently to fire the lampand the switch 21 may be released. The switch 20 remains closed and thelamp remains on. When it is desired to turn off the lamp, the switch 29is opened or moved to the off position.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, the lamp 10 is mounted in a pair of sockets25 supported in the lamp housing 26. Electrical circuitry, including thetransistors, is mounted in the housing. A battery 27 is also mountedwithin the housing to provide a self-contained unit. The switches 2t),21 may be mounted in a switch carrier 29 which in turn is slidablymounted in a cup 30 formed in the housing. The bottom of the cup 30faces upward in the view of FEG. 1 and has an opening 31 through whichthe manual actuating member 32 of the switch 20 extends.

The lower end of the cup faces downward and is partially closed by aU-shaped unit held in place by screws 36. A socket 37 is formed in themember 35 for receiving the actuating member or button 38 of the switch21. A compression spring 39 may be positioned around the button 38between the switch 21 and the member 35 for aiding the bias spring ofthe switch 21. The opening 31 and the member 32 may be disposed in arecess 40 formed in the housing 30 to protect the switch and reduce thepossibility of accidental actuation of the switch. A gasket 41 may bepositioned about the member 32 between the switch 20 and the bottom ofthe cup to reduce the possibility of entry of moisture and dirt into theinterior of the housing.

The carrier 29 typically may be molded of an'insulating plastic or thelike. A receptacle formed by wall members 50, 51 provides for receivingthe switch 20 at the upper end. A space 52 below the upper receptacleprovides space for the switch terminals and the associated wiring. Asimilar receptacle defined by wall members 53, 54 provides for receivingthe switch 21 at the lower end of the carrier, with a space thereabovefor the terminals and wiring. A plate 55 provides an electricalinsulation barrier between the two switches.

In assembly, the wiring connections ordinarily are first made to theswitch terminals. Then the ofi-on switch 20 is slid downward into theswitch carrier and the push-button switch is slid upward into the switchcarrier. The switch carrier with assembled switches is then slid intothe cup 30 with the member 32 projecting through the bottom opening ofthe cup. The member 35 is then installed and fixed in place by thescrews 36. The legends off and on may be provided on the exteriorsurface of the cup bottom as seen in FIG. 2.

With the switch structure in the condition as shown in FIG. 1, bothswitches are in the off or open circuit condition. The light is turnedon by manually moving the member 32 of the switch 20 from the offposition of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to the on position as shown in FIG. 5.Typically this would be by a thumb action. The manual force exerted onthe switch member 32 will actuate the switch 20 and also will cause asliding movement of the switch carrier 29, downward as viewed in FIGS. 1and 5. This downward movement will move the member 38 of the switch 21relative to the base of the switch,

closing the switch. The switch structure is held in the position of FIG.5 for a few seconds and then is released. On release, the switch 21 isagain opened by the spring action of the switch which moves the carrierupward to the position of FIG. 1. However, the switch 20 remains in theon position. The lamp will be fired and the light will be in normaloperation. When it is desired to turn off the light, the switch 20 ismoved from the on position to the off position by the reverse manualmotion.

The structure as illustrated provides for operation of both switcheswith a single manual movement. The structure also provides an indicationof the condition of the off-on switch so that the light operator willknow that the power is turned on even though for some reason the lamp isnot on. The particular structure illustrated provides a very simpleassembly of the switches without requiring that the switches be fixed inplaced. The compression forces which provide for operation of thepushbutton switch also provide for holding the switches in place in thecarrier. While it is preferred to mount the push-button switch in theswitch carrier, it should be noted that the push-button switch could bemounted in the housing or on the member 35 with the push button ormember 38 of the switch engaging the switch carrier while achieving thesame relative motion.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed anddiscussed, it will be understood that other applications of theinvention are possible and that the embodiment disclosed may besubjected to warious changes, modifications and substitutions withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing;

a switch carrier mounted in said housing for reciprocating movementalong an axis between first and second positions,

a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and mounted in said carrier and having a push-button memberengageable with said housing, with movement of said carrier in saidhousing along said axis to said second position moving said first switchto the closed position and with movement of said carrier to said firstposition per- -mitting spring return of said first switch to the openposition;

a second ofiF-on electrical switch mounted in said carrier and having anactuating member manually movable between off and on positions, with amanual force on said second switch member moving said second switch tothe on position and moving said carrier in said housing to said secondposition and with removal of the manual force permitting return of saidcarrier to said first position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch into the lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

2. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing;

a switch carrier mounted in said housing for reciprocating movementalong an axis between first and sec ond positions;

a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and mounted in said carrier and having a push button memberengageable with said housing, with movement of said carrier in saidhousing along said axis to said second position moving said first switchto the closed position and with movement of said carrier to said firstposition permitting spring return of said first switch to the openposition;

a second off-on electrical switch mounted in said carrier and having anactuating member manually movable between off and on positions, with amanual force on said second switch member moving said second switch tothe on position and moving said carrier in said housing to said secondposition and with removal of the manual force permitting return of saidcarrier to said first position;

indicator means for visually indicating when said second switch is inthe on position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch into the lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

3. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing;

a switch carrier mounted in said housing for reciprocating movementalong a first axis between first and second positions;

a first push-to'close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and mounted in said carrier and having a push button memberengageable with said housing, with movement of said carrier in saidhousing along said first axis to said second position moving said firstswitch to the closed position and with movement of said carrier to saidfirst position permitting spring return of said first switch to the openposition;

a second off-on electrical'switch mounted in said carrier and having anactuating member manually slidable between oif and on positions along asecond axis normal to said first axis, with a manual force on saidsecond switch member moving said second switch to the on position andmoving said carrier in said housing to said second position and withremoval of the manual force permitting return of said carrier to saidfirst position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch into the lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

4. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing having a switch member receiving socket;

a switch carrier mounted in said housing for reciprocating movementtoward and away from said socket between first and second positions;

a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and mounted in said carrier and having a push button memberdisposed in said socket, with movement of said carrier in said housingto said second position moving said first switch to the closed positionand with movement of said carrier to said first position permittingspring return of said first switch to the open position;

spring means positioned between said first switch and socket for urgingsaid switch away from said socket;

a second oif-on electrical switch mounted in said carrier and having anactuating member manually movable between off and on positions, with amanual force on said second switch member moving said second switch tothe onposition and moving said carrier in said housing toward saidsocket to said second position to compress said spring means and movesaid first switch to the closed position and with removal of the manualforce permitting return of said carrier to said first position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch into the lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

5. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing having a cup for receiving a switch carrier,

with an opening at the bottom of said cup;

a switch carrier slidably mounted in said cup for movement toward andaway from the open top thereof between first and second positions;

a closure member mounted in said housing for at least partially closingthe top of said cup and having a socket facing said cup bottom;

a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and mounted in one end of said carrier and having a push buttonmember disposed in said socket, with movement of said carrier in saidhousing to said second position moving said first switch to the closedposition and with movement of said carrier to said first positionpermitting spring return of said first switch to the open position;

a second off-on electrical switch mounted in the other end of saidcarrier and having an actuating member projecting through said cupbottom opening and manually slidable between off and on positions, with.a manual force on said second switch member moving said second switchto the on position and moving said carrier in said cup to said secondposition and with removal of the manual force permitting return of saidcarrier to said first position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch into the lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

6. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing having a cup for receiving a switch carrier,

with an opening at the bottom of said cup;

a switch carrier slidably mounted in said cup for movement along an axistoward and away from the open top of said cup between first and secondpositions and having switch receptacles at opposing ends of saidcarrier;

a closure member mounted in said housing for at least partially closingthe top of said cup and having a socket for receiving said cup bottom;

a first push-to-close electrical switch spring loaded to the openposition and installed in the receptacle at one end of said carrier bysliding along said axis and having a push button member disposed in saidsocket, with movement of said carrier in said cup along said axis tosaid second position moving said first switch to the closed position andwith movement of said carrier to said first position permitting springreturn of said first switch to the open position;

a second off-on electrical switch installed in the receptacle at theopposite end of said carrier by sliding along said axis and having anactuating member manually movable between oil and on positions, with amanual force on said second switch member moving said second switch tothe on position and moving said carrier in said cup to said secondposition and with removal of the manual force permitting return of saidcarrier to said first position;

circuit means for connecting said first switch intothe lamp heatercircuit of the light; and

circuit means for connecting said second switch into the power supplycircuit of the light.

7. In a fluorescent light, the combination of:

a housing;

a manually operable ofi-on electrical switch;

first means for mounting said oil-on switch in said housing for slidingmovement relative to said housing between first and second positions;

a push button electrical switch biased to the open position andincluding a base element and a button element; and

second means for mounting said push button switch with one of saidelements engageable with said housing and the other of said elementsengageable with said first means, with sliding movement of said offonswitch in said housing to said second position produced by manualactuation of said ofi-on switch causing relative movement of said pushbutton switch elements moving said push button switch to the closedposition and with removal of the manual actuating force permittingspring induced return of said off-on switch to said first position insaid housing and return of said push button switch to the open position.

References (lited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372.541 3/1945Beal 200-5 2,524,215 10/1950 Wegehoft 200 159 X 2,908,827 10/ 1959Hickman 200-16 X 3,188,406 6/1965 Scribner 200-16 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER,Primary Examiner.

J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A FLUORESCENT LIGHT, THE COMBINATION OF: A HOUSING; A SWITCHCARRIER MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT ALONG AN AXISBETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, A FIRST PUSH-TO-CLOSE ELECTRICALSWITCH SPRING LOADED TO THE OPEN POSITION AND MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIERAND HAVING A PUSH-BUTTON MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HOUSING, WITHMOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER IN SAID HOUSING ALONG SAID AXIS TO SAID SECONDPOSITION MOVING SAID FIRST SWITCH TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND WITHMOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER TO SAID FIRST POSITION PERMITTING SPRING RETURNOF SAID FIRST SWITCH TO THE OPEN POSITION; A SECOND OFF-ON ELECTRICALSWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER AND HAVING AN ACTUATING MEMBER MANUALLYMOVABLE BETWEEN OFF AND ON POSITIONS, WITH A MANUAL FORCE ON SAID SECONDSWITCH MEMBER MOVING SAID SECOND SWITCH TO THE ONE POSITION AND MOVINGSAID CARRIER IN SAID HOUSING TO SAID SECOND POSITION AND WITH REMOVAL OFTHE MANUAL FORCE PERMITTING RETURN OF SAID CARRIER TO SAID FIRSTPOSITION; CIRCUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FIRST SWITCH INTO THE LAMPHEATER CIRCUIT OF THE LIGHT; AND CIRCUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAIDSECOND SWITCH INTO THE POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT OF THE LIGHT.